County Information

Burr Oak Community Schools will soon be equipped with Nightlock Lockdown classroom door barricades, thanks in part to the St. Joseph County United Way. Kelly Hostetler, executive director of the local United Way agency, said her board of directors made a commitment to fund half the cost to any school countywide wishing to have Nightlocks. Burr Oak Community Foundation came …

Glen Oaks Community College continues to receive high marks in nursing pass rates, as graduates from both Level I and Level 2 programs pass the National Council for Licensing Exam at rates higher than the national average. Graduates from the one-year practical nursing program had a 100 percent pass rate, compared with a 92 percent Michigan pass rate and an …

A Middlebury man was injured in a hit-and-run accident last week in Cass County. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 11:20 p.m. Friday to M-217, near Wayne Street. Investigators said 57-year-old Dale Shrock was driving north on M-217 when another vehicle collided with the car Shrock was driving. Shrock told deputies the driver of the other car left …

St. Joseph County’s lone representative in the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s football playoff bowed out in a Division 8 contest Saturday in Howell. Mendon fell to Ottawa Lake Whiteford, 50-21 in a state semi-final matchup. The Bobcats coasted to a 36-7 halftime lead and never looked back. Both teams entered the wet and windy contest with 12-0 records. Whiteford …

The U.S. Land Office in White Pigeon was the recent recipient of a donation from Sturgis Bank & Trust Company for continued restoration of the facility. In recognition of that effort, bank officials presented a $5,000 check to members of the St. Joseph County Historical Society. Trudy Gloy, White Pigeon branch manager, said the bank supports communities when it can …

Sheriff’s deputies were called Wednesday to a residence in Mottville Township regarding the attempted theft of a motorcycle. According to a department media release, someone between 3 a.m. and 3 p.m. attempted to steal the motorcycle from the 68000 block of Mann Road in Mottville Township. Though the motorcycle itself was not stolen, several of its parts were taken, the …

Trine University has named Regina Schinker director of its education center in Centreville. Schinker previously worked at Trine as an adjunct faculty member. She also had served in several capacities, including most recently as teaching and learning coordinator at Davenport University in Grand Rapids. During her time as an adjunct instructor for Trine, Schinker said she has been impressed with …

A potential medical-marijuana facility drew a crowd to this week’s Centreville Village Council meeting. Opponents of the proposal said their concerns include the effects marijuana has on students; the village’s ability to handle zoning, fees and legal ramifications; that marijuana fails criteria for acceptable medical use in the U. S.; and that it is not the type of facility needed …

The St. Joseph County Road Commission agreed this week that it will offer an even match for work on local roads. Managing director Chris Minger said the road commission has allocated $500,000 toward reconstruction and rehabilitation of local roads. In December, the agency will ask townships for submission of potential road repair projects, he said. When submissions are received, the …

Two Cass County residents were involved in an accident Wednesday morning in Pokagon Township. Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke said 55-year-old Dowagiac resident Donald Fazi was driving north on M-51 when his vehicle crashed into the back of a car driven by Elizabeth Ecker, 28, of Niles. Ecker had stopped her car to turn left onto Indian Lake Road, authorities …